FG Vows to Support Cotton Farmers, Textile Investors

By Dipo Olowookere

Stakeholders in the textile industry have been reassured by the federal government of adequate support so as to use the sector to create millions of jobs for Nigerians and help attain security and stability in the country.

Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Mohammed Umar, who gave this assurance, reiterated government’s commitment to reviving the production of cotton and facilitating the restoration of the textile industry in Nigeria.

“We are ready and our farmers are ready to go back to the farm and the government is ready to provide the farmers with the enabling environment and materials to enhance their production capacity. The issue of raw materials for textile production will soon be rested,” he said during a stakeholder’s meeting with the Nigeria–Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the revival of the Nigerian cotton, textile and garment sector.

According to Mr Umar, the meeting was part of the next level transformation agenda of the present administration aimed at repositioning the agricultural sector as a launching pad for rapid economic development. He assured that Nigeria is ready to work with the Vietnam-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce to facilitate the textile business.

In his presentation, President of the chamber, Mr Oye Akinsemoyin, who led the delegation, inferred that having carefully studied the situation in the cotton industry in Nigeria, the agency was conscious of the need for a shift in government’s over–reliance on oil.

He continued that this move can enhance other sectors of the economy, especially the agricultural sector such that the textile industry which has been laid comatose for so long can be revived.

Mr Akinsemoyin stressed that part of the diversification plan aims to promote made in Nigeria goods and encourage Nigerians to promote Nigerian products above the foreign ones.

He informed the meeting about the need for Nigeria to plan towards showcasing its made–in Nigeria products at the19th Vietnam International Textile and Garment Industry Exhibition scheduled to hold in Vietnam later in the year.

On his part, the Director of Agricultural Business and Marketing in the Ministry, Mr Azeez Olumuyiwa urged the stakeholders to deliberate and come up with a Nigerian position to be discussed with their Vietnamese counterparts on the needed areas of collaboration.